Mboko has played so much tennis this season for one reason — because she wins and wins and wins some more. She’s just doing it on ever-bigger stages. In addition to Osaka and Rybakina, she beat world No. 2 Coco Gauff and 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin on the way to the title.

Andy Roddick defended Naomi Osaka after criticism of her brief runner-up speech following a 6-4, 4-6, 1-6 loss to Victoria Mboko in the 2025 Montreal Open final. He argued that expecting players to deliver polished remarks immediately after a tough defeat is unrealistic.

Osaka has made progress since returning in last year's Australian Open. She won two matches in both the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, has earned $725,727 in prize money and reached the No. 49 spot in the WTA rankings, with a higher ranking likely on the way by making the final.